Assembling machine



Nom 9, 1926. 1,606,432 G. c. HERKENHINE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec.24. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Humm Gummi Nov. 9 1926.

G. C. HERKENHINE Assslmnme Lucania ..1ednec. 24. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2@woe-uwen l l v I wmunnmu 'Patented Nv; 9, 41926.

UNITED f-sTATEs eRovER c.

PATENT OFFICE.

IIERKENHNE; or CINCINNATI, oIIIo, AssIGN'oIe To THE UNITED STATES CANCOMPANY, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AsSEMBLINGIMACIIINE.

applicati@ filed December a4, 1924'. 'serial Ne. 757,960.,

This invention relates to amachine for automatically interfittinglybringing together opposing sheet metal shell sections of substantiallyconcavo-convex configuration for ff union assembly in such manner thatone shell for separately-feeding the shell 'sections by gravity in aselectively progressive order to a station or juncture forinterfittingly bringing a pair of mating sections together for unitnassembly. p y

Another object is to provide mechanism automatically operable fordelivering o r feeding -the shell sectionsI to the assembly point, withtheir faces in predetermined relation to one another, `so that theymay--prop erly engaged. i

Anotherobject is to provide means for causing vthe assembly of theshellsto take place Within the rotative path of the feedln element insuch manner that' the elemen subsequently acts to advance the assembled'parts.. K

A more specific general object is to-.provide a machine forautomatically feeding and assembling the shell sections of bail ears,which after assemblyv are used upon buckets,

pails andy like receptacles lfor attaching` bails or `handles, thereto.Bail ears of this type are each formed of two sections and the sectionssubsequently placed together and crimped. Heretofore, the sections havebeen engaged with one another by hand, and then y inserted into a chuteleading 'to a crimping mechanism. In the present instance the sectionsare separately fed from respectiye hop-- pers tlirough'chutes or Waysleading to a;v

common point or juncture and vin a ,relativei progressIve vorder .forautomatically placmg or engaging one within the other to form,

after crimping together, a hollow button-like structure or bail earadapted.` to be, secured to opposing sides of a pail o r bucket.

i specific object is, therefore,to provide an automatic bail ear feederand assembly mechanism ofthe above nature,"adapted for use inconjunction with the crimping ma-' chine, the assembler mechanismoperating to feed the sections from.. respective hoppers into separateways or channels leading Into havingfabutments for arresting the move'mentlofthe sections' in,y predetermined relation to one another, so thatthe sections are t vpresented to an/ assembly juncture in a rela-- tiveprogressive order, the' mechanism com- ,-prisinig inter-lockedsimultaneously operable trip levers one of which is actuated by theadvance of the sections in. assembling, the v movement of such leveractuating the second to re ease the succeeding second section forengagement with the next succet'edingcorre-A sponding first section.Mechanism is 'thus f provided which places the parts together,

one part actuating the mechanism to release the other, andthe first partbeing held in a predetermined position, while the second slides towardand into engagement therey with, the relation of the stop and releasemembers' being such that as the assembled shell sections are 'advancedothers are conditioned for assembly engagement,

'Another object of the invention is to pro.

vide means forV deliveringthe shells to the assembler mechanism faced.in the proper direction for assembly and to further provide means forLthe facing and conveying of the two varieties of shells from4respective hoppers.

Another-object of the invention is to provide means to prevent injury totheshells as l vthey are agitated and turned or faced inthel hoppers,`for any injury to the shells is. apt to causethe shell to jam in theguide .ways and interfere with the continuous loperation of the machine.

A more general object of the invention is to provide an assembler devicein which the two" -varieties of shells after 'having been placed intheirrespective hoppers are thereafter automatically righted anddelivered 'l to thechute lin proper position, and the pairs assembledand fed to a crimping mechanism.

, Other objects and certain features and -advantages will appear inthe/description of the drawings forming part l,of this application inwhich drawings;l i F'gure 1 is a front elevation showing my invention, aportion of the` crimping mech.v anism'being shown in conjunctiontherewith,

Figure 2 is a vertical section through one of the shell holding shellpositioning, and feeding hoppers.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the hopper.

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary section substantially on line 4:--4 ofFigure 2, showing the construction adapted for shell section of..y onethickness. v

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing'the construction for ashell section of greater thickness.

Figure 6 is an Aenlarged detail front elevation of the assemblermechanism.

Figure 7 is a vertical section substantially on line 7 7, of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan section substantially on line '8-8, of Fig. 7

The numeral 1 generally designates a frame structure adapted to suitablysupport 20 the various parts of the mechanism, the support for thecrimper mechanism not being l'shovynf Upon the top of the frame aremounted hoppers respectively 2, 3, suitably spaced and'of the desiredcapacity, in each of which the respective shells to be ultimate- 1yassembled are deposited.

kThe respective shell sections supplied to the hoppers in thisparticular, instance areof a structure when assembled to provide a sheetmetal hollow button-like product adapted Ito be secured to the side of apail or bucket into which a hooked end of a. Wire bail is engaged forpivotally anchoring the bail to the bucket. The shell sections may be,defined as representing abase section 5 of disk-like form having a planebottom portion and a flanged rim portion providing an annular recess forreceiving an annular flange of a dome-like o cup-shaped second or coversection 6, seated into the recess ot the base sectlon'after which therim flange of the base section is `crimped over upon the annular flangeof the cover section to""unite and connect the sections together. l

The present machine merely anchors the mating sections and dischargesthe same for delivery to the crimper which turns the peripheral rimflange of one the base shell over the annular flange of the cover shell.v Mounted upon suitable cross irons below the level of the hoppers isthe assembling mechanism, .the same being mounted and held upon theframe generally designated at 7 which herein comprises metallic platesso arranged as to provide two vertically disposed channels or chutesrespectively 10, l1, one inclined with reference to the other in onesipg e chute or guide way 12, which leads to the crimping machinegenerally designated 15. The construction ot' the crimping machine formsno part of this invention and'is, therefore, not described in "detail,but "the same generally consists of a revolving center plane, joininginto a vertically disposed groove, intoavhich the assembled shells aredelivered and between which the assembled parts are rolled and theperiphery ot' one element crimped or bent over-the other.

Chutes rcsliectively 16, 1T, lcad from respcctive hoppers and areconnected with chutes 10and 11 leading to the assembly' point, the chute1G guiding thefbase shell section and the chute 17 the cover shellscction. lotatably journaled in suitable bearings at the front oi' theframe or support 7 is a shaft 20 extending at both sides of its bearingand at the inncrsidc having a 'feeding or propelling toothed wheel ormember 22, herein having the form of a sprocket Wheel, the Wheelprojecting into the groove 12 through a slot .formed by the spacedoverlapping plates ot the trame 7. 'Ihe feeding member is so relatedwith reference to the meeting point ot the chutcs 10, 1l, that when thecover shell is'disposed for engagement into the base shell one ot' theteeth 2i of the sprocket lies substantially as shown in dotand-dashlines in Fig. 7, in a position to intercept a successive cover shellreleased from in the chute 17 and to gradually advance the assemblingshell.

The base shell in reaching the juncture of the chutes 10, 11 is heldagainst further descent by an abutment member in proper relation forengagement with the cover shell the base shells being abuttingly engagedin the chute 10 one upon another. The cover shells in the chute 11 areheld against descent by a second abutment member, the said abutmentmembers being intcrlockingly connected for simultaneous 'operation torelease their respective sections as the tivo as- 'all lou

sembled shells are advanced by the propel- A Attached to the bottomendo-'t the spring. is a. pin 35, which projects horizontally throughthe side Wall of the frame and into and partially across the channel 12,adjacent This pin isa'dapted for engage-ment by the edge ofthe shellsection which is held thereby. until force is applied against the ear.section by the propelling element, the ear .section beingat that time.engaged within the shell. The end of this pin is suitably lIO 'themeeting point of the channels 10, 11.

.beveled or rounded as at 36so that when the .i

shell is forced 'downwardly the pin translated against spring action outof its path.. 'The pin is preferably beveled at an angle Wheelv and anouter die together forminga to the channel axis and direction of *travel17 0f the shell so that the lowermost shell is spoiidinglymoved towithdraw its abutment arrested and momentarily supporte-d until andrelease the ear. QA yleldable spring yconlan 'ear engages it,A and thenthe assembled nection between the "levers is provided for parts areadvanced by the propelling ele- 'l normally drawing the same toward oneanment.l Whenthis advance takes place the other to 'dispose theabutments across the pin is laterally translated. which causes -path ofthe shells. both levers to rock and cause the projecting 'The relationsof the channels, pin, pro'- fend-'32 of the lever 26, to withdraw andrejecting lever end, and rotatable feeding elelease an' ear y6, whichdrops to an arrested ment, aresuch that the assembled shell secpositionagainst the upper side of a tooth tion when forcibly translated, forcesthe pin of the propelling element, as shown Ain dotoutwardly, thussimultaneouslyswinging the and'dashLline in Fig` 7, whence the ear islevers away from one another, causingfa re- 'subsequently lowered towardand into enc lease of cover shells in the chute 11 and pergagement withthe succeeding .shell after it mitting a` cover shell next in'order toadl engages :the pin 35- the pin immediately re'.- vance for assemblingengagement with abase summg its projected position -for iuterceptshell,Vthe levers and pin being immediately ing this succeeding lshell;returned to normal positions with the'abut- The, levers of the stop andrelease mechament ends projecting into respectivev channism are hereinshown as constructed of nels or ways. sheet metal'bent into box format-oneend to provide reinforcement for pivoting, corre- -base shell isengaged by the lower outer sur sponding edges df thelever, being respecface or edgepfthe annular flange of the tively cut or shouldered as shownat 40 41 cover shell, and as the downward movement and a spring 42acting'to draw-.the lever of the engaged elements` continues the secends together. The levers are thus lpivoted tio-ns are brought together,one within the and abuttingly opposed and interlocfkefdat other, `as theresult of engagement ofthe. one side of their pivots in such manner thatbullor dome portion of the cover shell by a when force is applied attheouter end of one tooth of the advancing wheel or element, andl Theinner surface cf the rim flange of the the other issimultaneously'rockedto cause vas the rotation of this element continues a' its outer end tomove in an opposite directooth thereof is disposed in the p'ath of thetion. As best'shown in Fig. 8, the Ifree end succeeding cover shell tohold the same until of eachlever is curved inwardly toward the the nextsucceeding other, one end of one'of the levers toengage against' thestop base shell is in position the `outer face of thespring and the endof In order that the shells may be delivered the other lever to projectasy an 'abutment into' the chutes 16, 17, in `properly righted withinthe guiding channel'. vAlthough as .relation so that when'they reach theassemherein illustrated the pin transmitsmotion bly point, properassembly may be made,

to the lever, the leven 'itself could be proeach hopper has-therein adevice for turning @and used. y

Y second memberffor bringing the el jected into the shell guidingchannel and the shells and feeding them into the delivery suitablybeveled or roundeddtoobtain the rechutes only when faced inthe properdirecsult similar to-that of thefspriiig and pin tion. This'construction is particularly construction, and in this latterlinstarroet f adapted for yconcavo-convex circular Shelllevers, andspring 42 only wouldbe .neede ,like bodies,

p Referring particularly to iFigs. 2 to 5, in-

Thus, means ,is provided operable'b'y one elusive, the -bottom of eachhopper comprises of the` members for causing a releaseo'f the a hollow'substantially cylindrical, closed ments I bottom section 50, `beveledinwardly Y and into engagement at a given point lbelow'the 'downwardlyat its upper inner periphery `as convergently related channels, WhichcoinfL at 5l, to direct the shell bodies toward the prises a" pair oflevers each pivoted-to icsg-a.,agitator.,A A shaft 52 is suitablyrotatably support respectivelyi as at 27,28, having opff- 'stepped inthe bottom of the element 50, prol posingly faced and'related\abuttinglyA en- Qje'ets' upwardl y`\ centrally thereof and has gagedshoulders respectively 40, 41,l normally keyfcgt thereto a d ome-shapevor upwardly ,I

flatly ,engagedand disposed between and vconvex agitator member 53,preferably of spaced from their pivots. The engaged l faces normallyliesubstantially at a right angleto a line parallel with the front or rearL face of the support 7 The end'of yone lever is operable byvthetranslatable abutment pin 35 and the end of the other lever freelyprojects Within the other chute as a stop for the ear, Wherebytwhen one'lever is moved as the result' of .thef translative movement of theabutment pin, due to the'forcing of 'a shell' member past the pin, theother is corre- Which arejafttached sweeps 54 for the purpose ofcontinually. overturning the blanks to finallyids'pose their concavefaces against the convex facdof thefdome-shaped rotatable member..

a delivery'chute When'it is turned with its convex face toward thedome-shaped mem- I ber, the member 5() has its inner Wall 55 curved-atits, upper portion as at 56 toward hollow `donstruction, to Ethe uppersurface ofv v In order to preve'iit1p, -shell,from reaching l theretable element as shown in Fig. 2, the

curve being congentric or, parallel with that 57 ,into which whenproperly turned, 'the shells are delivered, andl around which theytravel by rolling upon their edges to a point where they are positivelydirected downwardly through an opening into one of the vchutes 16 or 17.v

Thus the agitator member has a cylindrical lower or base portionlmerging into a.

spherical or upwardly convex top portion and the inner surface of theaprnularrnember 50 or side wall of the receptacle 1s corre-- spondinglyshaped so as to provide a subf .stantially parallel faced, channel, theannulus extending only a relativelyshort distance upwardly. The edge ofthe annulus is inclined, from ythe inner wall surface, upwardly,providing a stop shoulder against which the flange of the shell engages,when the shell is in a reversed position to prevent its descent into theannular feed chamberl 57.

`Those shells which have not been properly tu-rned or righted cannotenter the annular groove 57 because of their` tangent'position to therotating 'member and impingement against the `beveled shoulder surface51, which relation is shown at the right side of Fig. )2. Therefore,when the flat or con- 'vex side of a blank is engaged against the faceof the agitator'member the blank is pre'- vented from entering thechannel and lthus no` wrongly 'faced Shell may be introduced thereinto.When, however, the sheils have been turned with their concave sidesagainst the agitator as shown at right of Fig. 2, they readily slidedownwardly into the groove and eventually "reach the delivery chute in amanner now to be described. 7

In order that the shells may not be rolled past the opening 60 leadingto the receiving end of the delivery chute, a stop and direct` ing pinis provided which extends horizontally through the side Wall of theelement 50 and projects into the groove 57 in a`position to yieldablyintercept the shells. The pin'thus functions to prevent a shell frompassing beyond the intake end of the chute" but is arranged andconstructed so that it fmay yield and cease to intercept the shell andyet direct the same downwardlyj into the opening., The angle of bevel ofthe pin and degree of resiliency of the spring 71 determines theyield'ability of the pin. The pin may, however, be non-translatablymounted 'and placed to direct a shell' downwardly by impingementandglancing, the pin being placed above the center of the shell, substan.'tially as shown, but spaced to allow the shell to freely pass by andbetweenit and thel inclined surface of the openingGO.

By this device the saucer-like sections are `Fig. 5, it will be notedthat the channel 57,k

has been widened in correspondence to the size of the shell.

Each sweep 54 is cut vertically at the outer sideI and Iextendssubstantially radially toward the outerw periphery pf the dome-shapedagitator, but stops short' of thel periphery and has fatt-ached at itsouter edge aflexible whip-likeelement 54 as a chain, referably formed ofa few quarter twist li s of ,com-

paratively light weight. The chain is of' such length that the lowermostlinkor links bridge the groove 57, and :lies or lie thereacross againstthe bevel fae 51 of the annulus 50.l This arrangement` is provided forthe following reason:

`In experimenting it has been found that when the sweeps alonefare usedand the same positively caused to enter the delivery chuter.`4

.are extended too far toward the periphery of the agitator thetliinnestshells 5 are often nicked to such degree as to interfere with their freepassage through the chutes Jor ways leading to the assembler mechanism,

thus causing frequent jamming. By. shortlening the sweeps in outwarddirection and providing the/.relatively light flexible whiplikeelements, proper turning or facing of `the-shells is accomplishedwithout nicking or marring. The ears 6 may be fed without the use of thechains apparently because of their greater thickness but the thinnershell-A like bodies cannot be successfully fed without the lighterwhip-,like elements. Any form of fwhip of the proper weight and lengthmay be used and modified forms of the same are used conformably to thevarying size and weight of the thin shells to be agitated and turned.Thus, the shells lying over or across the `cap between the dome-sha "ed'member and the annulus are acted upon only by the whip- -likeelementspand are rolled and turned, not so violently, and are'thus easedoff into the groove 57, after being properly faced. .1

The sweeps 5 4 arepreferably concaved on the forward side, so that theshells will be scooped in on that side, when in this instance theagitator dome is rotated in clockwise direction. i a L The shaft 20 isextended outwardly and is rotably Astepped in a side bearing of the frLme 1, projects outwardly therefrom and has non-rotatably attachedthereto Yadjacent the side of -the'frame a Ico'llarl75 againstI which isplaced a disk 76 of friction material and against the outer face of thisdisk is engaged a hub of a sprocket lwheel 77 rotat spon-ding gears atthe lower end of the agitaf tor operatng shafts., Suitable pulleys vareprovided at the outer end of the power shaft.

The sprocket wheel 77 is forced against the washer 76 by a coil spring82 the tension of which may be adjusted by the nuts A83 which'alsosecure the spring against displacement. .At an intermediate point theshaft 20 hs a grip Sinon-rotatably attached thereto by which the shaftmaybe stopped, when desired, the` tension of the spring being suflicientto suitably drive the shaft under ordinary conditions.- Thus, whentheoperator wishes to arrest the rotation of the feeding wheel 22, hemay do so ,a will.

The basel shells 5 descending by gravity in the Achute from the hopper 2are stacked one upon another in abutting engagement with the lowermostshell of the stack held against descent or advance by the pin 35. Thepin engages the base shell at a point toward an end ofthe shell rto.reduce the timing interval at whichvthe pin is' retracted by theshell inthe advancing movement of the shells imparted by lthe sprocket wheel forassembling the shells, and alon a line of engagement which is interrupteby the spacing of the non-engaging portion of two ,adjacent shells` thecircular form of the shells providing such spacing. The lowermost baseshell as it is arrested by the pin f 35 at the juncture of the twochutes is presented in a position for receiving the annular flange ofthe cover shell and at a lower end thereof `so that as the shells areadvanced or moved downward as a unit by the sprocket wheel, the covershell by the wall of Ythe chute is guided and forced from its angularposition toward the base shell, for

completely inserting the flangeof the cover shell into the rim of thebase sliell. The

chute beyond the pin 35 is of a dimension which willconiine the shellsAin the assembled condition.

j As the pin is retreated b the moying shells the levers 25 and, 26 willbe actuated to withdraw the end 32 of lever 26 from the chute 1l topermit the releaseof 1a single cover shell, and this Jrelease is at aretreat point from the juncture of the two chutes to allow for aprogressive order of feed of the base land cover shells to have the baseshell v reach the assembly stationI slightly in ad- Vance of the covelshell, and insure a proper assembling of th parts.

The rotationef the sprocket is continuous, and the release motion orfeed control of' the 'individual shell intermittent and automaticallytimed bythe movement o f the assembled shells. This enables theoperation of the machine at alcomparativelyr high speed, and providesfor a very definite timed -cantrol of the trip release of the individualshells to be assembled.

Having described my invention, I claim-z 1. In a device of the classdescribed, a

structure providing direct guide channels above'the first body, andmeans connecting rthe abutments whereby when the first shell body isadvanced the second is released.

2. In a devicei of the class described,'a structure providing 'a pair ofchutes leading to a common point a feeding element for engagingand-translating shell-like elements fed through said ,'channels, afterassembly at the point, an abutment member for arresting one of themembers adjacent the feeding element in position for assembly engagementby the second shell, meansfor arresting the second shell, and meansoperable by said first abutment for actuating the second abutment torelease a shell when the first shell is forced past the translatableabutment.

3. In a device of the class described, al

'means to release ashell when the first shell' is forced past thetranslatable abutment.

4. n a device of the class. described, a

structure providing twox shell-guiding waysleading to a common point, atranslatable abutment element for arresting-one of the shell membersadjacent and below the meeting point of the ways in .position forassembly engagement bya companion shell member arriving from the otherway, said element adapted' for translation by a shell member when forcedthereagainst, a second abutment element for arrestinga shellamemf er inthe other guide-way at a point above lbe first shell member andmeetingpoint of he ways, and means connecting the abutments for movementin unison to withdraw the second abutment when the first-,Lis transvlated.

5.*In` a device of .the class described, a

Structure providingtvvo shell-guiding ways leading to acommon point, atranslatable -abutment element for yieldably arresting when the first istranslated.

6. In a device of the class described, a structure providing a pair ofshell-guiding ways leading into a third way at a common point, 'aninwardly spring pressed pin projecting into one of the Ways adjacent andbelow the .meeting point, for intercepting and yieldingly holding ashell in position for assemblv engagement, by a companion shell, andtranslatable by the forced movement of the first shell to allow itsforward movement, apivoted lever operable by the pin when translated,and a second pivoted lever operable by the first lever,` having an endprojecting' into the other way at a point above the pin for interceptingand releasying the. second shell for` assembly engagement with thefirst. J s

7. In a device ,of the class described,a structure providing a pair ofshell-guiding Ways leading into a third way at a common point, aninwardly pressed spring pin projecting into one of the, ways adjacentand below vthe meeting point 'for intercepting and yieldably'holding asliellin positiony for assembly engagement by a companion shell, saidpin having a formed end adapting it to be translated by a forcedmovement of the first shell to allow advance of theshell,

a pivoted lever operable by the. pin- `when translated, and a secondpivoted lever simultaneously and positively operable by";l the firstlever, having an end projecting into "the other way at a point above thepin for'ine` tercepting or releasing a second shell for as"-- semblyengagement with the first.

8.w In a device of the class described, a structure "providing twoshell-guiding ways leading to a common point, a translatable abutmentelement for arresting one of the shell members adjacent and below themeeting point of the ways in position for assembly engagement by acompanion shell vmember, said' element 'adapted for translation by ashell when forced thereagainst a .second abutment element for arrestinga shell member in the other guide-way. at a point -above the first shelland meeting point of the ways, means eonnectingthe abutments formovement in unison to withdrawthe second abut-4 ment when the first istranslated, and means vfor automatically delivering shells from rementfor arresting a shell member in the other guide-way at a-point above thefirst shell, means connecting the abutments for movement in unison towithdraw the sec- 'ond abutment when the first is translated,

and means for automatically delivering shells from respective hoppers tocorresponding ways relatively faced for assembly at the meeting point ofthe ways.

'10. In a device of thel class described, a

structure providing a pair of shell-guiding ways leading into a thirdway at a common point, ya pin projecting into one of the ways adjacentand below the meeting point for intercepting and yieldingly holding ashell in position for assembly engagement by a companion shell, said pinyieldably out-l wardly translatable and having a formed lend adapting itto be translated by the forced 'movement of the first lshell to permitonward shell movement, a pivoted lever op- 'erable by the pin whentranslated, a second y'and means for automatically ydelivering yishellsfrom respective hoppers to corresponding ways relatively faced forassembly at the meeting polntof the ways.'

11. In a device of the class described, a'

structure providing a pair of 7guide-ways leading into a third way at acommon polnt,

translatable pin projecting into one'of the ways adjacent and below themeeting point of, the ways, for intercepting -and yield'ably holdingashell in position for assembly en- \`gagem'entf by a companion shell,said pin beveled at` its inner end for obtaining translation o "the pinwhen y a. shell is forced through therway, a pivoted lever operable bythe pin when translateda second pivoted lever having 1n i'nterlockedengagement with the first lever and simultaneously operable therewithand thereby,, having an end projecting :intothe other way.' at r appointabove the pin for intereeptin 'and releasing the second shell for assemly engagement with the first, and means for automatically' delivspondingways relatiyely faced for assembly at the meeting pointof said ways.'

1-2. In a device of the class described, a structure providing twochannels convergent toward and leadingA into a single channel, atranslatable pin normally projecting into the third channel below. themeeting point of the, channels for arresting and temporarily"holding ashell infposition for assem'- bly engagement by an ear delivered fromthe other channel, a propelling element having teeth engageable with anear after its assembly engagement with the shell for-pro pelling theassembled bodies, the neigt sueceeding tooth acting as aistop engageableby the bottom of a succeeding ear for arresting and then lowering thatear to assembly engagement with the next shell, a pivoted Y lever'havingan end projecting into the other` way for arresting an ear above v.theshell,

means connecting the two abutment memf-bers for movement in unison,whereby' trans,-

latin of the assembled parts bythe propelling element acts to releaseand condition a succeeding ear for assembly engagement with the nextsucceeding shell.

13. In a device of the class described, a structure providing twochannels yor chutes leading to a common point, a feeding element forengaging and translating the members after assembly at the point, andmeans operable byl one of said members for callsing a release ofthesecond member to cause the elements to meet and engage a translatablepin for yieldingly arresting one shell bodyadjacent the point,'comprising a pair of levers each pivoted to a support and havingopposingly faced and relatd shoulders abuttingly engaged, and disposed4between and spaced from the pivots, thecend of one lever operable bythe translatable' abutment pin normally projecting `into one of thechutes` and the end of the-.ether lever 2freely projected within theother chute as a mov-A able abutment, Whereby when one l'ever 'is movedby the abutment pin as one of the shell members forced past the-pin,vthe other is correspondingly moved to withdraw its abutment and releasethe other .hell, and a yieldable connection between Mt\e levers andbetween the pivots and outer ends thereof forl normally drawing thelevcrstoward one another. e l

14. In a. device of the class'ldescribem'a structure providing twochannels or chutes leading to a common point, a feeding element forengaging and translating the members after assembly at the point, andmeans operable by one of said members forcausing arelease ofthe secondmember tocause'the elements to meet and engage adjacent the point,comprisinga transl'atable/ pin-.for y-'ieldingly arresting one shellbody, ajpair of levexspivoted to the support and having opposingly.faced andAvv related shoulders abuttingly engaged, normally flatlyengaged and disposed between and spaced from they pivots, the end, ofone lever operableby the translatable abutment pin normally projectinginto one'of the chutes, and the end ofthe other Ilever freely projectedwithin the other chute as a movable abutment, whereby when one lever ismoved by the abutment pin as one of the shell members is forced past thepin, the other is correspondingly imoved Kto' withdraw, its abutment andrelease the other shell, a yieldable connection between l the levers andbetween he pivots 4and outer ends. thereof for normally drawin theleversf toward one andther,`and'means or feeding the shells torespective channels in properly faced assembly. i

15. In a device.of the class described, a structure providing twochannelswc'onvergent toward and leading into a single channel, atranslatable pin projecting-into the single channel below the meetingpointof the ways for arresting a .shell in position for assembly,

engagement by an ear delivered vfrom the other way, a pro ellingelementL having equally spaced teet one at a` time, engageable with' theuppenporton of an ear after its assembly engagement with the shell, forpropelling vtheassembled bodies and one at a time adapted to act asastop for holding and'lowering a succeeding ear to and into assemblyposition with a pivoted lever having- 4 an end projecting into thesecond way forv arresting an ear, means for causing the two abutments.t9,move-in unison' 'toward and away fromone another. whereby translationof the lassembled parts by the propelling element acts to release asucceeding ear for engagement with the propelling member, preparatory tobeing lowered to assembly posil{ionby the rotative movement of that mem-16. In '1a device of the class described, a structure providing twochannels convergent toward and leading into a single channel, atranslatable pin projecting into the single channel elow the meetingpoint of the channels for arresting a shell in position for assemblyengagement by an ear deliv- JIAered'from the other, channel, a'rotatable pre1 pelling element having stops engageable one at a timewith the upper portion of an ear after its assembly engagement with theshell, 'i for propelling the assembled bodies and acting alsofor-intercepting, holding `and loweringa 'succeeding ear toassemblyposition, a pivoted lever havingan end projecting vinto thesecond way for arresting an ear* above the;.propelling element, meansfor 'connecting the' two abutment members for movement in'oppositedirection iny unison, `whreby translation ofthe assembled parts by thepropelling element acts to release a succeeding ear for engagement withthe pro- 'pelling member, preparatory to being lowj ered tov assemblyposition by the rotative movement of that member,and means forautomatically deliveringjshells from respecj' tive hoppers tocorresponding channels prop- -erly faced for assembly engagement.

17. In a device' of the class described,1a structure providing ,twochannels convergent toward land leading into a single channel, atranslatabley pin normally projecting into thethird channel below themeeting fpoint of the channels for arresting and temporarily holding ashell in position for assembly engagement by an ear delivered fron/1 l5the yother channel, apropelling element hav- 'ing teeth one engageablewith an ear after bly engagement with the shell for propelling-theassembly bodies, the next succeeding tooth acting as a stop engageableby a succeeding earifoi'- arresting' and then lowering :that ear toassembly engagement lwith `the next shell, and means 'operable by i oneof said members for-.causing release of the second member, comprising ,apair of levetrs each pivoted to a support and having oppositely facedand. related shoulders abuttingly engaged, disposed between and spacedfrom their pivots, the end of one lever dis- A posed to berocked by thetranslatable pin .30 and the other having an end freely projectits assemment and release the other shell, and yieldable connection between thelevers and between the pivots andthe outer ends of the' leversfornormallydrawing the levers to- Ward one another. l

19. Iiia device of the class described, a receptable having a portion atits lower inmer wall. curving upwardlyl and inwardly to a vpoint abovethe bottom, for obtaining ,a circular construction overhangi'ng thebottom, 'and an upwardly faced circumferential stop shoulder, anagitator member rotatable within the receptacle havingits outer surfacesubstantially parallel with and spaced from the inwardly curved lowerportion of the receptacle to Iforni therewith an annular channel withthe circumferential` stop shoulder at its entrance, the outer surface fthe said agitator member having a convex configuration above the'channel, whereby when the convex side of the blank isJ engaged with theconvex surface of the t agitator, the blank engages the stop shoulderand is-prevented from entering the'channel, and whereby when the concaveside is engaged against the said convex surface, the blankmay enter thechannel.

20.-'In a device of the class described, a

nuV

receptacle having an agitator member rotatably mounted there-imsaidmember having ingwithin the. ear chuteifor arresting an ear ,aCylindrical basse POI'tOIl merging IIO, all

above the shell, whereby when one lever is upwardly directed circularconvex moved by the abutment pin as one of the shell members is forcedpast the pin the 35 other is correspondingly moved t0 withdraw nelaboutthe cylindricaland a portion of the convex surface of the agitator,the'opposing its abutment and release the other shell.

a ortion, an annular member surrounding an spaced from said agitatormember to form a chan- .18.A Ina device of the class described` a.-falls Substalltlally Parallel and lll@ upper structure i providing twochannels conveil`l`m 0l sind alllllllus lllwal'dly bevelled down genttoward and leading into a single chan- Walclly towards the. agltatol'it0 form fl Cll" 40 nel, a. translatable pin normally projectingCumfelelltlll SQP fQ1'-P1'eVentlng 9' wrongly intd'the third channelbelow the meeting faced Cap fromfentermg the Channeli point of thechannels for arresting and tein- 21. In a device ofthe class described,a

vwporarily holding a shell in position for asreceptacle halting allaglatOI' member rotat- Sembly engagement by an ear delivered from ablymounted therein, an annular member the otherN hannel a propellingelement havsurrounding and spaced from said-agitator ing teethengageable with an ear/after its member, having its inner surfacecurving assembly engagement witlrthe shell for pro- PWldly and `inwardlyfrom the bottom,l pelling the assembly bodies, the next suc# 'OljmlIlg acircumferential channel With the ceeding tooth acting. as a stopengageable agltawrmemberi with the rim 0f s'ald annu- .by a succeedingear for arresting and thn lilI member providingna circumferential stoplowering that" ear to assembly engagement;`l` VShoulderat the entrance`of the channel, .Vith the next shell, means operable bysone of Wlll'ebyi& b0d y 0f CODCaVQ-COIIVQX Configugaid member@ forncausing vrelease, 0fthese@ I'iltlOll llitVillg llS 0011021178 Slde engaged With ond membercomprising a pair of ,levers each the agitator, is allowed to enter thechannel,` 'plvoledto a support and having oppositely and whereby whenits convex side is engaged faced and related shoulders abuttinglyenywith the agitator its periphery impinges the gage'd,dispdsied'between and spaced from rim of the annulus as a stop,to\prevent entheir pivots, Ethe endgof one` lever disposed trance intothe channel.' to be rocked by the translatable p in and the iis y 22. Ina device of the class described, a re` l 0" other having an end freelyprofecting within ceptacle having an agitator member rotatthe ear chute.for arrestingan ear above the ably mounted therein, said member havingshell, whereby'whe'n one lever is'moved 'byf a cylindrical baseportionmerging into an `the abutment pin as .one of the shelk memupwardlydirected circular convex portion,

, ".bers is forced past the pin the other is coran'annularmember-surrounding"andspaced g5 responding'ly moved to withdraw ,its(abutfrom Said agitator member having its 'inner-1;.

face curving upwardly and inwardly to a point above the bottom, forminga channel about the cylindrical and a portion of the convexed surface ofthe agitator and providing a stop shoulder at the entrance of thechannel, the opposing Iwalls substantially parallel and the upper rim ofsaid annulus inwardly beveled downwardly towards the agitator,a'delivery opening leading downwardly from the channel, and a pinprojecting into the channel above the delivery opening for directing theshell bodies thereinto as they are rolled theretoward, said pinyieldably translatable for disposal outside of the path of the shellbody, to prevent jamming and injuryof the bodies.

23. In a device of the class described,. a receptacle having an agitatormember rotatably mounted therein, said member having' a cylindrical baseportion merging into an upwardly directed convex portion, an annularmember surrounding and spaced Vfrom said agitator member to form achannel about the cylindrical, and a portion of the convex surface ofthe agitator, said annular member having its inner surface curvingupwardly and inwardly -to a point above the bottom to obtain aconstriction overhanging the botl tom and to provide'y a circumferentialstop shoulder, the .Upper rim of the annulus inwardly beveled downwardlytoward the agitator, sweep elements extending upwardly from the agitatorfor turning blanks,and relativelv light flexible elements comprisingchain links attached at one end to the sweep elements, having theirfree-ends adapted to lie across the channel to forwardly drive and turn theblanks for entrance into the channel. U24. In a device of the classdescribed, a receptacle having an agitator member rotatably mountedtherein,` said member having a cylindrical base portion merging into anupwardly. directed convex portion, an annulus surrounding and spacedfrom the agitator member to form a channel about the cylin-v drical anda portion of the convex surface,

-the internal surface of the annulus curving` upwardly and inwardly to apoint above the bottom to overhang the bottom, and provide an upwardlyfacing circumferential stop shoulder, the upper `edge of the annularmember inwardly bevelled downwardly toward the agitator and flexibleelements attached at one end to the convex portion of the agitatoradapted to lie across the channel and to agitate, and turn thcshell-like bodies when the agitator member is rotated.

25. In a device of the class described, a receptacle having an agitatormember rotatably mounted therein, said member having a cylindrical baseportion merging into an upwardly directed convex portion, an annulussurrounding and spaced from the agitator member toform a channel aboutthe cylindrical and a portion of the convex surface, said annuiusupwardly and inwardly curved at its inner surface to form a constrictionoverhangin'g' the bottom, and providing an upwardly facingcircumferential stop shoulder, sweep elements extending upwardly fromsaid agitator memberfor engaging and turning the bodies, and flexiblewhip-like elements attached 4by one end to -said sweep elements havingtheir free ends adapted to )liep across the channel for gently tossing,turning and advancing shell-like 26. In a device of the class described.a

pair of guide ways merging into afsingle discharge way for guidinglybringing a pair` of shell sections or the like into opposing assemblyengagement, a stop element engaged into said discharge way at thejuncture of said guide ways for arresting a pair of engaged opposingshells, and a rotative member, having teeth spaced to consecutivelyengage the shells in one of said guide ways for advancing the engagedopposing shells to complete the shell assembly and detract said stopelement.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe.

my name.

